Cam and lever steering gear



Aug. 9, 1932.

D. E. Ross CAM AND LEVER STEERING GEAR Filed Oct. 15. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIIIIIII/ wi l!!! IIII --uun n-nnnnw Aug. 9, 1932. oss 1,871,134

CAM AND LEVER STEERING GEAR Filed Oct. 15, 1928 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 9, 1932 UNrrsn stares DAVID ROSS, OF LA FAYETTE, INDIANA CAM Ann LEVERISTEEVRING' GEAR v Application filed October 15,1928. Serial no. 312,616.

This invention is an improvement in cam and lever steering gears of the general type shown in my Patent No. 1,567,997 dated December 29th, 1925. In this type of cam and lever steering gear the actuating member. is provided with a helical groove which is engaged by a pin on the arm of the rocker shaft.

The object of the present invention is to provide a construction in which the actuat- 1 ing member is provided with a helical rib or rail and the rocker arm is provided with a self adjusting grooved member adapted to engage the rib, the parts so cooperating that the actuating member will in effect move the 7 rocker arm practically in the same way that it is moved in my aforesaid patented con struction.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated the at presentpreferred form of 29 the invention and two modifications thereof for the purpose of illustrating but not eX- hausting the capabilities of embodiment of the invention. I will explain the invention with reference to said drawings to enable others to adopt and use the same, and refer to the claims following the description for summaries of the essentials of the invention and novel features of construction and novel combinations of parts for which protection is desired.

In said drawings;

Fig. 1 is a sectional View partly in section of the lower part of a cam and lever steering gear equipped with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail transverse section on the line 22 Fig. 1.

' Fig. 3 is a detail section on the line 33 Fig. 2. a r

Fig. 4 is a detail face view of the grooved member applied to the rocker arm.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are views similar to Figs. 2, 3 and 4 respectively showing a slight modification of the invention.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are views similar to Figs. 2; 3 and 4 respectively, illustrating another modification of the invention.- The actuating member 1 is preferably cylindrical and adapted to be'attached to the steering shaft S of a steering gear in any suitable manner, as in my aforesaid patent.

of the rib.

7 tion relative to the This actuating member is: provided with a helical rib or rail 1a which maybe given any desired pitch. This 'helical'rib may beeither uniform in pitch or its pitch may vary'from the center toward each end thereof, as is the groove "in my aforesaid patent.

- In. cross section this rib is much like a pinion tooth in form and is adapted'to be engaged by a self ad usting grooved member 7 whose groove correspon'ds'in' cross section to Y the cross sectionof the rib. At'present I preferto employ a spherical member 2 (see Figs. 1-4), having an annular circumferential groove 2a which engages the rib la as shown in Fig. 2. This member Qis confined within a recess 36 in the end of the arm 3a of a rocker shaft 3 suchas described in my aforesaid patent, and the member is seat- .ed in a hardened steel bearing member -20 placed inthe outer end of"said'r.ecessthe 7 outer end of this hearing member 20 abutting against the wallof the casing, or against an. adjusting plate P which is usually interposed between the arm and wall of the casing C to keep themember on the arm properly 7 engaged with the actuating member.

The spherical member 20 may be made of bronze or other suitable metal. The helical rail or rib 1am the actuating member 1 can -be varied in pitch ifdesired like the groove 'sfl I in the actuating member of my patented cam and lever gear; and the groove 20 in'the spherical member closely engages the rib la and has a rolling contact therewith andcan readily adjust itself to any variation iii-pitch 8 .The rib 1a and the groove "2a are cut to closely engage and fit each other like the teeth of intermeshing gears and as-the actuating member is rotated the rib engaging the spherical member forces the rocker arm to move longitudinally of the actuating member and turn the rocker shaft. The rib and groov are so cut that continuous contact is always maintained between them and in the actual gear the grooved spherical member will at all times assume the proper true posirib no matter what its pitchmaybe. y

In the construction shown in Figs 4, 5 and 109 lindric member 4 abuts' against theadjusting plate'P or the wall of the casing in the same manner as the bearing ineir'iberfic' abovede scribed. The roller 2% projects; sulficiently beyond the end of the cylindric member t to properly engage the rib lw-as shown in Figs. 5'ffl11d36l' f Y In+the constructionisho'wn inv 6 and 'Z-the roller; has the same;- capacity for uni- 'versal selfadjustment relative to the :actuating member asi the:sphericalmember 2;-shown 'inl igsil to 411. Whenasphereisused, slight fiatiannular cuts maybe made at the outer .edgreszof thevg-rooves asindicated :at'2s to preg2 ventiany. wedgingfbetweenthe rib and walls .of thegroove in transmittin If the ballor sphere-2' is -used, it is self-evident that due to its'sphericityiti Wlll tuI'H 'and'followthehelical-singularity.- fthecam: The: roller shown Win-.Fi-gsi 5'to7- has the same universal selfadjusting effect as the cylindric membersupportingeit will turn within the openingiin the arm and. allow the roller to follow thehelical .ang-ularitiesr of' the rib. Both sphere. and

-' roller-a prodiicea rolling; action-insteadof a frictional slippageias" in m aforesaid patented cam and leveristeering; gear;

In the construction shown in 'F' gs: 8, and

1() 'cylin'dric member 5;is rotatably mounted *,vvithinthearnr3a and: has a. groove in its inner end which directlyiengages the rib la on their actuating; membertf The; outer" end of memben 5- abuts 'againstthe adjusting plateP V for casingA; as in Fig 1 This cylindric mem- 4 ebera5; can obviously:adjustdtself to-the variationsin pitchi'iofi the rib 1i i Inthis: construction the: groovedj end" of. the; pin= embracesetheq'iband transmitszmotion in' either direction,. but. with: more friction than with ;the'ggroundrsphere: or: roller; The-groove in the cylindric member 5 must not tightlyfi fit the ribthroughout its length, but nuust be a composite of the: various pitches; of the -"-rib .WhiO'l'Il'Wlll'l e varied accordingzto the desired r-conditions-for any urakeoficar; t-llUSPl'IGIeJQ OItth'G pulley-Qmrhavezthiaoretically alin'e'contact; isu ch variatien's need I not be'ftahen into account.- 1

I Inthe'patentedcam. and lever steeringgear,

vc during theiheat treatmentithe actuating memberahas a tndency toscontract thewgroove in some; places an'tl widen it: in 4 others; and the grinding.:has=been;most difticults In'iny present invention the helical rib projects-"from ,?theicyilinden andzcan be easily'fcutbyra straddling mill, and the rib can be ground by abrasive wheels of the same cross-section as the straddle mill. The rib on the cylinder is in effect as a helix around the cylinder, with a variable helix angle to suit any desired working conditions and the self-adjusting grooved contact member engaging. said rib will transmit motion, and always maintain itself at the proper angle to the rib.

1 Iiiasteer-inggear; a rotatable actuating member provided with a projecting helical ribjai reckemrm beside the actuating meme a d e member having a groove engaging said rib and pivotal'ly mounted on the rocker 0 arm so that it can automaticallyadjust itself relative to the arm andthe-aetuating member and? maintain accurate engagement with the rib inialloperative positions-of the rocker arm.

2 Ina steering gear; arotatable actuating member having; a projecting;- helical rib-,2 a rocker arm beside the actu'atingimember-gjand a'member' having a groove 7 engaging+saidrib and pivotally mounted on 'the arm -so,-'tha t=it T can rotate onan axis'perpendicularlto the axis of the aotuatingmember, whereby said member can automatically. adjnstaitself relative to the arm andthe actuatingzmembe-r and maintain; accurate engagementwith therib in all operative positions-of the; rocke'rarm.

3. In a steering gear; a cylindric actuating member h aving aprojecting helical 'r-ib on its periphery, means for; rotating said actuating member, a'roclterarm be'si'de the-actuating member; and-'a member mounted-on the arm and having a groove engaging. said rih and capable ofrotationon; an axis. perpendicular to the axis of the actuating; member whereby said member canautomatically adj ,ustaitself relative to the arm and the actuatingmember and =mainta=in accurate engagement 'with the rib-inalloperative positions" of the-rocker arm. c

, 4:. In a steering gear; a rotatableactuating 7.10 member having a projecting helical-rib, a rocker arm beside the actuating-memberand a-- member rotatably mounted on th'e rocker arm and havinga peripheral groove engag ingthe said rib; said member being rota-table on its own axis and alsoi'rotatable; on the arm on an axis perpendicular to'the axis ofTthe actuating member, whereby said member c'a 'n automatically adjust itself relative to the arm and the actuating vmembe-rand maintain accurate engagement with therib in all operactuatingfimemb er; and armember' rotatably mountedonthe rocker arm and having;- a' peripheralgrooveengaging thefsairl 'rib; said member'be-mg'irotatable-on: its own abrisia-nd also rotatable on the arm on an axis perpengaging the rib, whereby said member can automatically adjust itself relative to the arm and the actuating member and maintain accurate engagement with the rib in all operative positions of the rocker arm.

7 In a steering gear; a rotatable actuating member having a projecting helical rib on its periphery, a rocker arm beside the actuating member; and a spherical member rotatably mounted on the arm and capable of rotation V on an axis perpendicular to the axis of the actuating member; said spherical member havmg a circumferential groove adapted to engage the rib whereby said member can auto- 1 matically adjust itself relative to the arm and the actuating member and maintain accurate engagement with the rib in all operative positions of the rocker arm.

8. In a steering gear; a cylindric actuating member having a projecting helicalrib on its periphery, means for rotating said actuating member, a rocker arm beside the actuating member, and a spherical member rotatably mounted on the arm and capable of rotation on an axis perpendicular to the axis of the actuating member, said spherical member having a circumferential groove engaging the rib, whereby said member can automatically adjust itself relative to the arm and the actuating member and maintain accurate engagement with the rib in all operative positions of the rocker arm.

9. In a steering gear; a cylindric rotatable actuating member provided with a projecting helical rib on its periphery; a rocker arm pivotally mounted beside the actuating member; a stub shaft mounted on the rocker arm and rotatable on an axis perpendicular to the axis of the pivot of the rocker arm; and a roller having a peripheral groove rotatably mounted on said stub shaft and engaging the said rib; said roller being rotatable on an axis perpendicular to the axis of the stub shaft whereby said roller can automatically adjust itself relative to the arm and the actuating member and maintain accurate engagement with the rib in all operative positions of the rocker arm.

10. In a steering gear; a cylindric actuating member having a projecting helical rib on its periphery; means for rotating said actuating member; a rocker arm beside the actuating member swinging on an axis perpendicular to the axis of the actuating member and having a socket in its end adjacent the actuating member; and a cylindric member rotatably mounted in said socket, and having a transverse groove in its outer end engaging the said rib whereby said member can automatically adjust itself relative to the arm and the actuating member and maintain accurate engagement with the rib in all operative positions of the rocker arm.

DAVID EDWARD ROSS. 

